Do you need to watch the John Wick movies before The Continental?
The Continental: From the World of John Wick looks to be a wild new expansion of the hit movies. But do you actually need to see the Keanu Reeves films before you watch this show?
John Wick was an instant hit when it was released in 2014, restoring Keanu Reeves to a major box office name. He played the title character, a former assassin pulled back into the game when a batch of thugs made the mistake of stealing his car and killing his dog. John was part of a mysterious society existing for centuries who conducted “business” in unique ways.
The Continental is a chain of hotels around the world that serve as safe havens for the killers. There are very strict rules on no violence on the grounds, with unique gold coins used as currency. The New York branch was run by Winston Scott (Ian McShane), who aids John in his quest.
The movie and its three sequels have expanded on this world, showing more of the society and how strict they are on these rules. The films are packed with some amazing action, yet the question is if viewers need to actually see the movies in order to fully enjoy the show.
Is it necessary to watch the John Wick movies before The Continental?
The show is a prequel set in the 1970s that shows how the younger Winston (Colin Woodell) joins The Continental and rises in this world of assassins. A subplot is Winston’s brother running afoul of the society by stealing the press that makes the special gold coins used for currency.
Besides Winston and aide Charon, all the characters are fresh to the John Wick world, so viewers don’t need to know their backstories. The movies could be good primers just to see how different Winston is from the experienced figure played by McShane. While knowing how this society works, the series seems set to welcome newcomers.
In a way, it’s not unlike the Star Wars shows on Disney+, where knowledge of the source material is great, but even newcomers can enjoy them. Of course, action film fans should enjoy the John Wick movies anyway, but newbies should be able to enjoy The Continental even without a quick binge.
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The Continental: From the World of John Wick premieres on Friday, Sept. 22 on Peacock.